Do You Know About the Senior Games?

Here’s why I like them. 

To this Activity Professional, the Senior Games are the best thing since buttered bread.  For seven years, I had the thrill of helping my residents prepare for and participate in their local county Games.  I was there to see the pride on their faces; they knew they were representing their fellow residents in a competitive venue in the outside community.  How cool is that?  We’re not talking about staging a cute in-house thing.  Those are needed and fun, but would you compare a high school gym class game to a varsity tournament?  Me neither.

There are lots of competitions to choose from:  Sports, Performing Arts, Visual/Heritage Arts, Literary Arts.  All the competitions are divided into age groups.  The folks in their 80’s are not competing against the ones in their 60’s.  If someone in their 90’s needs to walk instead of run part of their 400m race, people still cheer wildly.  I won’t go into too much detail – you can find more on the websites – but here are some examples that my residents entered, many of which won gold medals:

Literary Arts – We recorded some residents telling those great stories they have from back in the day, typed the stories up and popped them in folders.

Heritage Arts – Residents submitted knitted or crocheted projects they had made.

Visual Arts – Residents submitted photos printed from their phones, or hand-crafted paper flower displays.

Performing Arts – Our resident choir performed live in front of an audience of hundreds.

Sports – Putt-putt golf, corn hole, softball throw, fun walk.

Of course, it’s not just for the residents.  Anyone “50 years old or better” can participate.  I’m talking to staff here – of a certain age.  I’ve personally done badminton, 50m, 100m, power walk, acrylic painting, and instrumental music, as well as leading the resident choir group vocal music.  Wouldn’t it be great for facility morale if the residents could see more of us rejecting ageism and identifying with them and our “50 or better” peers?

There are yearly Games held in 54 counties here in NC in the spring.  Make sure you find out about the Local level or county Games.  Your state will have them also.  You have time to prepare if you start soon, but the deadlines for registration are coming up fast!

For more details google “Senior Games near me.”

Donna Stuart   December 2024